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1994 Dodge Caravan Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1994 Dodge Caravan has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Automatic transmission failure and slipping.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1994 Dodge Caravan.

Reported to NHTSA

Automatic transmission failure and slipping

POWER TRAIN

30 NHTSA complaints · 2000-02 → 2005-07

“TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON OUR 1994 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITHOUT ANY WARNING - THE VAN IS JUST UNDER 9 YEARS OLD AND HAD 86292 MILES. IT HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND IS MAINTAINED IN VERY GOOD CONDITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10030406
“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXPLODED INTERNALLY, AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10038277
“TRANSMISSION HAD SOME MAJOR REPAIRS DONE AT 90,000 MILES. CURRENTLY, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10029668

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Liftgate and door hinge failure

STRUCTURE

28 NHTSA complaints · 2000-02 → 2006-08

“1994 DODGE CARAVAN MILEAGE 66.873 WITH WHEELCHAIR LIFT REAR LIFTGATE HINGE, BOLT HOLDING THE HINGE TOGETHER BROKE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE, LETTING HINGE SEPARATE, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO DROP DOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10165126
“THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF THE HINGES. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO OPEN/CLOSE DOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10109270
“LEFT BOLT THAT HOLDS HINGES TO HATCHBACK SHEARED OFF. HATCHBACK CAME SLIDING DOWN TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING LEFT ARM TO "FREEZE" IN POSITION, RENDERING HATCHBACK DOOR INOPERATIVE.*AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8016372

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pedal loss and reduced stopping

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

16 NHTSA complaints · 2000-05 → 2009-04

“WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR .THEN, VEHICLE STOPPED. ONCE GOING UP A HILL BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT, CONSUMER COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8011165
“BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND BRAKE PEDAL WILL DROP TO FLOOR, BUT VEHICLE WILL STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A MASTER CYLINDER. THREE MONTHS LATER, MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8006310
“AFTER REPLACING BRAKES DROVE OUT OF DRIVEWAY, AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT COULD CAUSE BRAKES NOT TO OPERATE. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #890502

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

20 NHTSA complaints · 2000-01 → 2002-10

“CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIIVNG AT 35-40 MPH THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8019939
“NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT TIME OF CRASH. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CRASH SCENE AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CARAVAN.*AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #766126
“VEHICLE 1 WAS TRAVELING WHEN VEHICLE 2 CAME OVER INTO HIS LANE. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN THIS HEAD ON COLLISION, THERE WERE 3 INJURIES AND 2 DEATHS IN THIS ACCIDENT, CLAIM 01-6239-721. *JG”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #6900762

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling while driving

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

17 NHTSA complaints · 2000-04 → 2006-11

“WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8018143
“INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8001822
“WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMERS VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. TS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10004347

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

413 crashes 1990–2024

How the 413 occupant deaths break down

221

driver deaths

187

passenger deaths

5

not recorded by seat

413

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1993 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

107

complaints mentioning a crash

7

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1994 Dodge Caravan reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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